2023-12-21 10:14:12
A moment that will remain engraved in his memory for a long time. Ethan Mbappé, 16, played his first minutes in Ligue 1 this Wednesday, December 20 against Metz (3-1) at the Parc des Princes. The day of the 25th birthday of his big brother Kylian, author of a double, and under the eyes of his parents present in the stands. A nice early Christmas present.
The match is already over when Luis Enrique decides to call him to come on alongside Carlos Soler and Gonçalo Ramos. A pat on the hand from the outgoing players, Bradley Barcola, Manuel Ugarte and Kang-in-Lee, and he is launched into the lions’ den. As he enters the field (90th + 2), the public cheers for him, like each of his passes which he takes great care to complete without missing a single one (9 out of 9). We even see him combining with his big brother to the delight of the two accomplices who must have dreamed of it since the younger brother’s promotion to professional training.
Since the start of the season, Ethan Mbappé has indeed participated in the sessions of the flag team where he shows a certain involvement which pleases the oldest. Last December 2, Luis Enrique even praised him: “The future will tell (if he keeps his promises). He is the future of the club. He’s not finished yet physically but he has a lot of qualities, a very good vision of the game, this intelligence… I like him a lot and I’m sure he will soon make his first appearance with the team. » Present on the bench against Reims, Brest, Nice and Lille, it was therefore necessary to wait for the reception of Metz, 14th in Ligue 1, for the Spaniard to put words into action.
Internally, we say we are very satisfied with the progress of Ethan who, remember, is still the youngest player in the PSG squad this season. A Terminal STMG student like Warren Zaire-Emery, he was born 9 months after his friend who has already established himself as an essential, and with whom he shows great complicity on a daily basis. “With Warren we have a little ritual between classes: when we have a break, we go down to the PSG Campus dining room to grab some peanuts and some fruit to motivate ourselves and regain our strength before returning to class,” we said. Ethan Mbappé confided last month.
Ethan Mbappé played his first minutes in Ligue 1. Philippe Lecoeur/FEP/Icon Sport) 2023 Icon Sport
The trajectory of the two Titis is not comparable. It would even be a disservice to dare to do so today, as “WZE” is a precocious phenomenon for whom the road to Euro 2024 with the French team is all mapped out. On the other hand, in Paris, everyone agrees that Ethan Mbappé has been able to improve many things since his arrival in 2017. “He has progressed, is more and more decisive. He had some big matches (in youth) even if he can still improve in his runs without the ball and the repetition of efforts,” explains a trainer from the training center. Zoumana Camara, the coach of the U 19 team, made him play six Youth League matches, a competition in which PSG did not manage to get out of the groups.
Objective: first professional contract
After the match this Wednesday, in the mixed zone, Lucas Hernandez did not fail to compliment him on his great first: “He is a very good player, very young too. We see that he wants to improve, that he wants to grow in this team. It’s up to him to continue working so that each time, the coach gives him the chance to benefit and be present with us. I think it’s a perfect day for him. »
“I’ve liked his way of training for a long time,” said Luis Enrique. He plays with the under-19s but he is a very interesting player who has a lot of personality. He can play a lot of positions. He could have entered the season earlier, and it was a coincidence that he started on his brother’s birthday. I’m happy and I’m sure he can still play very good matches. He has a prestigious last name that is hard to bear but he has a lot of values. He is prepared. »
The question of his future at PSG will now arise. Like his big brother and the other players in the team born in 2006 (excluding Zaire-Emery and Zague), Ethan Mbappé, who will be 17 on December 29, is at the end of his contract aspiring to the end of the season, on the 30 June 2024. On this subject, PSG remains discreet. Perhaps, also, to protect him from already strong external pressure due to his last name and the questions surrounding his real potential. The Parisian club’s intentions are known, however: to have it sign a first professional lease for a long-term project.
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